Private aviation has always been about the customer experience: time saved, smart flying and being treated to best-in-class service. Today, however, it is also about being accountable for the world we fly across. Aerocardal, a provider of air ambulance, charter and cargo services based at Chile’s Santiago International airport, has decided to innovate rather than replicate when it concerns service innovation and sustainability. It is not the only private jet operator in Chile with a ‘green’ FBO, but the company believes it is building one of the most advanced aviation complexes in all of Latin America.

CEO Ricardo Real explains: “When individuals consider private air travel they immediately think about the jets, but the experience actually begins well before take off. Aerocardal has built an FBO that functions from the ground up, literally. It is one of the most contemporary facilities on the continent, a proud member of the Air Elite international network. This is not by chance. We have planned, invested and created every square metre of this area to embody what today’s travellers seek: namely efficiency, style, speed and privacy.

“That vision would not have been realised without the outstanding leadership of Marco Nunez, our longtime FBO manager. Marco has been instrumental in developing this facility as a benchmark for quality and efficiency. And another pillar in the process of achieving responsible investment, thorough policy analysis and sourcing providers has been our finance manager Manuel Acosta. The deep operational expertise of both executives, their passion for excellence and customer-focused mindsets have set the standard for the FBO experience globally.”

This is no publicity stunt: becoming green is a key component of Aerocardal’s corporate strategy. And in Latin America, where infrastructural constraints and regulatory uncertainty may render it difficult to make progress, the company has nevertheless forged ahead. “Somebody has to take the lead, why not us?” he says. “We’re Chile’s first solar-powered FBO, with panels on the roof of our largest aircraft hangar and electric charging stations for customer vehicles. These take advantage of infrastructure that was already in place. On top of that, we have replaced diesel-fuelled GPU platform units with electric units and regularly purchase carbon credits to mitigate our carbon footprint. These efforts allow us to minimise our emissions and fossil fuel consumption, and show our customers that luxury service and environmental consciousness aren’t mutually exclusive.

“We understand Latin America, where investing in infrastructure equates to overcoming challenges that others would find daunting. We constructed our own fuel farm and also have three fuel trucks, making us the only FBO at Santiago International with this capability. We can accommodate aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 767, and our ground services are professional, efficient and prepared for anything.

“It’s not just logistics. It gives our clients peace of mind. CEOs, medical personnel and heads of state all know that once they step into our FBO, everything works. That’s the company we’re operating: high performance, no compromise.”

While many companies talk about sustainability without actually making any changes, Aerocardal plans to lead by example.

“Our investment in green initiatives hasn’t been small: it’s taken capital, planning and long-term orientation. But it’s paying off already, not just environmentally but operationally and for our reputation.

“Consumers must conduct business with firms that possess a conscience. ESG is no longer corporate jargon, it is the benchmark by which serious firms will be judged. We’ve accepted that evolution, and we’re showing that even in a part of the world where green aviation is in its early stages, you can achieve meaningful progress.

“The truth is that Latin America possesses all the talent and opportunity necessary to achieve sustainable aviation; all that’s lacking is commitment. Aerocardal is making that commitment. We’re demonstrating that a Latin American FBO can hold its own alongside the world’s best, not just in terms of luxury and service but in stewardship.

“Our passengers like that. They understand that we’re not just considering their future flights, we are also concerned about their footprint. That’s why they return time and time again.

“To my fellow aviation colleagues I say: delay no more. The time for sustainable infrastructure is here, the technology exists, the need is pressing and the customers are watching. We have decided to go first, not because it’s fashionable, but because it’s imperative. And we hope others will follow.

“Aerocardal is proof that it is possible to provide world-class private flight and care deeply about the planet. We’ve achieved it, and we’re just getting started."